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Abstract:

The present invention discloses a human powered and electricity balanced
personal vehicle, which comprises: a main body for bearing a driver; a
set of powered wheels being two coaxial wheels; a manpower inputting
device being provided for the driver to input manpower into the personal
vehicle; an electricity converting device for converting electricity to
power and inputting the power into the personal vehicle; a transmission
device for receiving the manpower inputted by the manpower inputting
device and the power inputted by the electricity converting device, and
inputting mixed power of the manpower and power into the powered wheels;
an operation device being provided for the driver to control the moving
state of the personal vehicle; a plurality of vehicle movement detecting
devices for detecting the moving state of the personal vehicle and the
operating condition of the driver; and a control unit for receiving and
analyzing the signals of the plurality of vehicle movement detecting
devices and controlling the electrical output of the electricity
converting device.

Claims:

1. A human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle comprising:
a main body for bearing a driver; a set of powered wheels being connected
with the main body and being two coaxial wheels; a manpower inputting
device being connected with the main body and provided for the driver to
input manpower into the personal vehicle; an electricity converting
device being disposed in the main body, wherein the electricity
converting device can convert electricity to power and input the power
into the personal vehicle; a transmission device being disposed in the
main body, wherein the transmission device can receive the manpower
inputted by the manpower inputting device and the power inputted by the
electricity converting device, and inputting mixed power of the manpower
and the power into the powered wheels; an operation device being
connected with the main body and provided for the driver to control a
moving state of the personal vehicle; a plurality of vehicle movement
detecting devices detecting the moving state of the personal vehicle and
an operating condition of the driver; and a control unit being disposed
in the main body and connected with the plurality of vehicle movement
detecting devices and the electricity converting device, wherein the
control unit can receive and analyze the signals of the plurality of
vehicle movement detecting devices and control the electrical output of
the electricity converting device.

2. The human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according
to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary wheel which is connected with
the operation device through an auxiliary wheel operating mechanism.

3. The human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according
to claim 1, wherein the manpower inputting device comprises: at least one
pedal for the driver to input manpower; at least one crank being
connected with the pedal; a first fluted disc being connected with the
crank; and a roller chain being connected with the first fluted disc and
the transmission device.

4. The human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according
to claim 1, wherein the electricity converting device comprises: at least
one battery; at least one motor driver being connected with the battery,
wherein the motor driver can start the charging function when receiving a
braking signal; and at least one motor being connected with the motor
driver and the transmission device, wherein the motor can be driven by
the motor driver and transmit the power to the transmission device.

5. The human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according
to claim 1, wherein the operation device is provided with a brake
controlling element.

6. The human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according
to claim 1, wherein the plurality of vehicle movement detecting devices
comprises: at least one electrical detecting element being a gyroscope
and disposed in the main body, wherein the gyroscope can detect an
angular magnitude, an angular velocity, a velocity, and an acceleration
of the personal vehicle relative to the ground; an encoder being disposed
in the operation device and for detecting an angular magnitude of the
driver turning the operation device; and at least one torsion detecting
element being disposed in the manpower inputting device and for detecting
a torsion input by the driver.

7. The human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according
to claim 1, wherein the transmission device comprises: a second fluted
disc being connected with the manpower inputting device; a transmission
shaft being connected with the second fluted disc; two first gear wheels
being connected with the two ends of the transmission shaft respectively;
two second gear wheels being connected with the electricity converting
device respectively; and two planetary gear sets being connected with the
two first gear wheels, the two second gear wheels and the two powered
wheels respectively, wherein the two planetary gear sets can receive the
manpower transmitted by the two first gear wheels and the power
transmitted by the two second gear wheels, and outputting the mixture of
the manpower and the power to each powered wheel.

8. The human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according
to claim 1, further comprising a power switch being disposed on the
operation device and for the driver to switch the power.

9. The human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according
to claim 1, which can be ride purely by man power when the rider want to
do so.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a personal vehicle, and more
particularly to a personal vehicle which uses manpower as the major
driving force for moving and uses electric motors for controlling the
dynamic equilibrium.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Bicycles are general conveniences in early society. However, with
the industrialization and the acceleration of the pace of life, the parts
of functions of the bicycles are replaced by motorcycles and cars and
thus the bicycles are gradually being ignored. In recent years, under the
global wave of energy conservation and carbon reduction, the bicycles
become one of the important selections for many commuters or people in
exercise. Owing to the conventional bicycles are driven by manpower, all
the problems caused by using fossil fuel, such as air pollution,
consumption of too much energy and greenhouse gas emission, can be gotten
rid of. Furthermore, the bicycles are simpler in structure, lighter in
weight, easier to manufacture and maintenance and cheaper in cost than
the other vehicles.

[0005] However, the size and the maneuverability of the bicycles are still
need to be improved. Owing to the front-and-rare wheels installed in the
bicycles make the body length longer, it is easy to interfere with
pedestrians when driving the bicycles in the downtown, and the situation
of battling between bicycles and pedestrians may happens.

[0006] In order to overcome the above shortcomings, a balancing personal
vehicle is provided. Referring to FIG. 1, which is a perspective view of
the balancing personal vehicle disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,230 and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,817. The balancing personal vehicle A1 includes a
support platform A10, two grip A11, a handle A12, and two wheels A13. The
internal of the support platform A10 is provided with an electronics
component, such as several gyroscopes, for detecting the balance status
of the vehicle body and a driver, and two motors are controlled by a
control circuit for making the vehicle to balance itself. Thus, with the
shift in the center of gravity of the driver, the vehicle can change the
moving direction according to the center of gravity.

[0007] In 2001, a product of a motor-driven vehicle was launched according
to the above patents and referred as "SEGWAY". SEGWAY is a balancing
personal vehicle driven by electricity entirely, and the electricity
source is a lithium battery. The electricity is converted to power and
then output by the motor and the exhausted battery can be charged with a
general socket. SEGWAY does not produce and discharge carbon dioxide,
thus it can reduce much air pollution and the consumption of energy
relative to the motorcycles and the cars.

[0008] On the other hand, SEGWAY occupies a space merely wider slightly
than a person when standing, thus it can move on a general road, enter an
elevator, and over stride a small difference of level. Owing to the two
co-axis installed wheels, the parking space required by SEGWAY is smaller
than that required by the bicycles and the motorcycles. When SEGWAY is
moving, the two-wheel installation and the differential steering design
make the actions more flexible and SEGWAY even can move backward due to
the above features. The interference with pedestrians by SEGWAY is less
than the motorcycles or the bicycles installed with the front-and-rare
wheels, thus SEGWAY possesses more advantages than other kinds of
vehicles in a city with limited space.

[0009] However, owing to that SEGWAY is driven by electricity entirely,
the situation of battery exhausting when moving may happen, and it is
inconvenient for the driver to charge or exchange the battery. Moreover,
SEGWAY must consume electricity, thus it can not conserve energy like the
traditional bicycles.

[0010] In view of this, it has to provide a novel personal vehicle
possessing the advantage of energy conservation of the traditional
bicycles and the driving flexibility of SEGWAY with two co-axis installed
wheels, and a personal vehicle suitable for using in the city will be
developed. The combination of the novel personal vehicle and public
vehicles can provide more flexibility and convenience and reduce the
interference with pedestrians in a downtown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In view of the above shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of
the present invention resorted to past experience, imagination, and
creativity, performed experiments and researches repeatedly, and
eventually devised the present invention, a human powered and electricity
balanced personal vehicle.

[0012] The major objective of the present invention is to provide the
human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle, which employs a
design of two co-axis installed wheels and can save much occupying space
compared to a bicycle so as to produce less interference with surrounding
people or cars and require less parking space.

[0013] Another objective of the present invention is to provide the human
powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle, owing to the manpower
treading is the major driving source of the personal vehicle and
electricity is merely auxiliary for balancing, thus the personal vehicle
of the present invention can move continuously even if the battery is
exhausted and it is no need to charge or exchange the battery.

[0014] Further objective of the present invention is to provide the human
powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle, owing to manpower
treading is the major driving source of the personal vehicle and
electricity is merely auxiliary for balancing, thus the personal vehicle
of the present invention can conserve more energy relative to SEGWAY.

[0015] Consequently, the present invention provides a human powered and
electricity balanced personal vehicle comprising: a main body for bearing
a driver; a set of powered wheels being connected with the main body and
being two coaxial wheels; a manpower inputting device being connected
with the main body and provided for the driver to input manpower into the
personal vehicle; an electricity converting device being disposed in the
main body, wherein the electricity converting device can convert
electricity to power and input the power into the personal vehicle; a
transmission device being disposed in the main body, wherein the
transmission device can receive the manpower inputted by the manpower
inputting device and the power inputted by the electricity converting
device, and inputting mixed power of the manpower and the power into the
powered wheels; an operation device being connected with the main body
and provided for the driver to control a moving state of the personal
vehicle; a plurality of vehicle movement detecting devices for detecting
the moving status of the personal vehicle and an operating condition of
the driver; and a control unit being disposed in the main body and
connected with the plurality of vehicle movement detecting devices and
the electricity converting device, wherein the control unit can receive
and analyze the signals of the plurality of vehicle movement detecting
devices and control the electrical output of the electricity converting
device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] For a complete understanding of the aspects, structures and
techniques of the invention, reference should be made to the following
detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a balancing personal vehicle
disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,230 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,817;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of a human powered and electricity
balanced personal vehicle according to a first preferred embodiment of
the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a vertical view of internal components of the human
powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according to the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram of the internal components of the
human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according to the
first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a planetary gear set and a powered
wheel of the human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the signal, power and energy
transmission and the relationship of controlling between the major
components of the human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram of the human powered and
electricity balanced personal vehicle according to a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] To achieve the foregoing objectives and effects, the inventors
employ manpower treading as the major driving source of the personal
vehicle and electricity as auxiliary power for balancing, thus achieving
a human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle. Hereinafter,
the human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle according to
a first preferred embodiment and a second preferred embodiment of the
present invention will be described in detail for illustrating the
structural features and principles of the present invention.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, FIG. 2 is a perspective
diagram of a human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle
according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
3 is a vertical view of internal components of the human powered and
electricity balanced personal vehicle according to the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram
of the internal components of the human powered and electricity balanced
personal vehicle according to the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention. A personal vehicle 1 of the present invention includes
a main body 100, a set of powered wheels 110, a manpower inputting device
120, a electricity converting device 130, a transmission device 140, an
operation device 150, a plurality of vehicle movement detecting devices
160, a control unit 170, and an auxiliary wheel 180.

[0026] The main body 100 can carry a driver, and a seat 101 is disposed on
the main body 100 for the driver to sit.

[0027] The set of powered wheels 110 are connected with the main body, and
the set of powered wheels 110 are two coaxial wheels.

[0028] The manpower inputting device 120 is connected with the main body
100 and provided for the driver to input manpower into the personal
vehicle 1. The manpower inputting device 120 includes two pedals 121, two
cranks 122, a first fluted disc 123, and a roller chain 124. The two
pedals 121 are provided for the driver to input manpower. The two cranks
122 are connected with the two pedals 121 respectively. The first fluted
disc 123 is connected with the two cranks 122. The roller chain 124 is
connected with the first fluted disc 123 and the transmission device 140.

[0029] The electricity converting device 130 is disposed in the main body
100, and the electricity converting device 130 can convert electricity to
power and then input the power into the personal vehicle 1. The
electricity converting device 130 comprises two batteries 131, two motor
drivers 132 and two motors 133. The two motor drivers 132 are connected
with the two batteries 131 respectively, wherein the two motor drivers
132 can start the charging function when receiving a braking signal. The
two motors 133 are connected with the two motor drivers 132 and the
transmission device 140, wherein the two motors 133 can be driven by the
two motor drivers 132 and then transmit the power to the transmission
device 140. In practice, it can achieve the same goal by employing one
battery and one motor driver in the electricity converting device 130.

[0030] The transmission device 140 is disposed in the main body 100. The
transmission device 140 can receive the manpower inputted by the manpower
inputting device 120 and the power inputted by the electricity converting
device 130, and then input mixed power of the manpower and the power into
the powered wheels 110. The transmission device 140 comprises a second
fluted disc 141, a transmission shaft 142, two first gear wheels 143, two
second gear wheels 144, and two planetary gear sets 145. The second
fluted disc 141 is connected with the roller chain 124 of the manpower
inputting device 120. The transmission shaft 142 is connected with the
second fluted disc 141. The two first gear wheels 143 are connected with
the two ends of the transmission shaft 142 respectively. The two second
gear wheels 144 are connected with the two motors 133 of the electricity
converting device 130 respectively. The two planetary gear sets 145 are
connected with the two first gear wheels 143, the two second gear wheels
144 and the two powered wheels 110 respectively, wherein the two
planetary gear sets 145 can receive the manpower transmitted by the two
first gear wheels 143 and the power transmitted by the two second gear
wheels 144, and then output the mixture of the manpower and the power to
each powered wheel 110 so as to make the powered wheels 110 move around.

[0031] The operation device 150 is connected with the main body 100 and
provided for the driver to control a moving state of the personal vehicle
1. Two laterals of the operation device 150 are provided with a brake
controlling element 151 for the driver to operate with two hands and
control the brake function of the personal vehicle 1. The brake
controlling element 151 can be a mechanical type or an electronic type.

[0032] The plurality of vehicle movement detecting devices 160 are
provided for detecting the moving state of the personal vehicle and an
operating condition of the driver. The plurality of vehicle movement
detecting devices 160 comprises an electrical detecting element 161, an
encoder 162 and two torsion detecting elements 163. The electrical
detecting element 161 is a gyroscope and disposed in the main body 100,
wherein the gyroscope can detect an angular magnitude, an angular
velocity, a velocity, and an acceleration of the personal vehicle
relative to the ground. The encoder 162 is disposed in the operation
device 150 and provided for detecting an angular magnitude of the driver
turning the operation device 150. The two torsion detecting elements 163
are disposed in the manpower inputting device 120 and provided for
detecting a torsion input by the driver treading the two pedals 121. More
details, the two torsion detecting elements 163 are disposed in the two
pedals 121 respectively, and the two torsion detecting elements 163 can
detect the torsion with a pressure detecting element. The torsion is
equivalent to the cross product of the amount of input manpower detected
by the pressure detecting element and the length of the crank 122.
Besides, in practices, the electrical detecting element 161 further
includes an inclinometer and an accelerometer.

[0033] The control unit 170 is disposed in the main body 100 and connected
with the plurality of vehicle movement detecting devices 160 and the
electricity converting device 130, wherein the control unit 170 can
receive and analyze the signals of the plurality of vehicle movement
detecting devices 160 and control the electrical output of the
electricity converting device 130. The control unit 170 also can monitor
the electric quantity and the charging/discharging status of the battery
131, and can manage the charging/discharging status of the battery 131
according to the road conditions and the driving status of the driver.
Wherein the control unit 170 and the electrical detecting element 161 are
integrated on a printed circuit board 171, and the printed circuit board
171 is disposed in the main body 100.

[0034] The auxiliary wheel 180 is connected with the operation device 150
through an auxiliary wheel operating mechanism 181. When using the
electricity balancing function, the auxiliary wheel 180 and the auxiliary
wheel operating mechanism 181 are in the hidden status without contacting
with the ground.

[0035] In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
personal vehicle 1 further contains a power switch (not shown in the
figures), which is disposed on the operation device 150 and provided for
the driver to switch the power. That is, the driver can selectively
decide to turn on the electricity balancing function or not.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 5, a schematic diagram of one planetary gear set
and one powered wheel of the human powered and electricity balanced
personal vehicle according to the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated. The planetary gear set 145 includes a
planetary ring gear 145a, a planetary gear 145b, a sun gear 145c, a
planetary arm gear 145d, an accessory gear 145e coaxial with the sun gear
145c, a first short shaft 145f connected with the planetary gear 145b and
the planetary arm gear 145d, and a second short shaft 145g connected with
the sun gear 145c and the accessory gear 145e. The manpower input by the
driver is transmitted into the planetary arm gear 145d from the first
gear wheel 143, and then transmitted into the planetary gear 145b through
the first short shaft 145f. The power provided by the motor 133 is
transmitted into the accessory gear 145e from the second gear wheel 144,
and then transmitted into the sun gear 145c through the second short
shaft 145g. According to the principle of Planetary Gear System, the
manpower input by the driver and the power input by the motor 133 will be
hybridized in accordance with the ratio of teeth number between the
planetary gear 145b, the sun gear 145c and the planetary ring gear 145a,
and then the hybridized power is output to the powered wheel 110 from the
planetary ring gear 145a so as to make the powered wheel 110 move around.
If there is no planetary gear system with suitable ratio of teeth number,
a proper ratio of hybridized power can be obtained by adjusting the
dimension of the first gear wheel 143 and the second gear wheel 144. In
the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the major
function of the planetary gear system is to hybridize the power, and the
second function is to adjust the ratio of output power.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 6, a schematic diagram of the signal, power and
energy transmission and the relationship of controlling between the major
components of the human powered and electricity balanced personal vehicle
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated. Above all, when the personal vehicle 1 moves, the plurality
of vehicle movement detecting devices 160 detects the moving state of the
personal vehicle 1 and the operating condition of the driver
continuously. The moving state of the personal vehicle 1 and the
operating condition of the driver include the following information: the
angular magnitude, the angular velocity, the velocity, and the
acceleration of the personal vehicle relative to the ground being
detected by the electrical detecting element 161 such as the gyroscope;
the torsion being input by the driver and detected by the torsion
detecting element 163; and angular magnitude of the driver turning the
operation device 150 being detected by the encoder 162. Next, the above
detected data are transmitted to the control unit 170. The control unit
170 further calculates the moment of force need to be output by the two
motors 133, and then indicates the two motor drivers 132 to control the
two motors 133 for outputting the specific moment of force, finally the
power is output to the two planetary gear sets 145. For example, if the
value detected by the encoder 162 is not equal to zero, the two motors
133 will output differential power and make the personal vehicle 1 turn
around. The two batteries 131 provide electricity to the two motor
drivers 132 respectively. Besides, the driver can operate the manpower
inputting device 120 and input the manpower into the two planetary gear
sets 145. After the power of the motors 133 and the manpower are
hybridized in the two planetary gear sets 145, the hybridized power is
output to the two powered wheels 110 and the personal vehicle 1 can move
according to the particular direction and speed.

[0038] Owing to the personal vehicle 1 of the first preferred embodiment
according to the present invention has the feature of two co-axis
installed wheels, the integral of the personal vehicle 1 and the driver
can be regarded as an inverted simple pendulum system. The electrical
detecting element 161, such as a gyroscope, can detect the balance (or
inclined) status of the personal vehicle 1 and the driver in the movement
state, such as the angular magnitude, the angular velocity, the velocity,
and the acceleration relative to the ground. After calculating the above
physical quantities by the control unit 170, proper signals are sent out
to the two motors 133, and then the two motors 133 can convert the
electricity of the batteries 131 to the power and output the power to the
two co-axis installed wheels independently so as to balance the integral
of the personal vehicle 1 and the driver.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 7, a perspective diagram of the human powered and
electricity balanced personal vehicle according to the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Owing to the
components and the structure of the second preferred embodiment are in
common with those of the first preferred embodiment, the details of these
previously described comments are omitted herein. The difference is that
an auxiliary wheel 280 of the personal vehicle 2 of the second preferred
embodiment contacts with the ground, that is, the personal vehicle 2
moves with three wheels. This way can be used when the batteries are all
exhausted, and the driver can control the rotation direction of the
auxiliary wheel 280 by operating an operation device 250, therefore the
auxiliary wheel 280 plays the roles of a supporting wheel and a turning
wheel at the same time. Furthermore, when a bad road condition or an
impact of an improper external force makes the obliquity of the personal
vehicle 2 is too much, and even if the batteries are not exhausted, the
auxiliary wheel 280 can be extended to contact with the ground for
providing additional support to the personal vehicle without falling
down.

[0040] In the forgoing first and second preferred embodiments, the
manpower is the major driving force and the electricity is provided for
assisting the balance in the normal driving, and the batteries keep in
the discharge status and provide power for the motors. When the speed of
the personal vehicle is too high or the personal vehicle is driven in a
downgrade, stopping the personal vehicle by operating the brake
controlling element can retrieve some energy for charging the batteries
by the motors. In addition, the personal vehicle of the present invention
can be raised, and then the motors and the batteries can be charged by
treading on the pedals. The personal vehicle not only has the advantage
of energy conservation but also can be used as an interior healthy body
vehicle.

[0041] Moreover, the human powered and electricity balanced personal
vehicle of the present invention can be ride purely by man power when the
rider want to do so.

[0042] By the detailed description of the overall structure and technical
content of the present invention, the following advantages of the present
invention can be derived:

[0043] The present invention employs a design of two co-axis installed
wheels and can save much occupying space compared to a bicycle so as to
produce less interference with surrounding people or cars and require
less parking space.

[0044] Owing to the manpower treading is the major driving source of the
personal vehicle and electricity is merely auxiliary for balancing, thus
the personal vehicle of the present invention can move continuously even
if the battery is exhausted and it is no need to charge or exchange the
battery.

[0045] Owing to manpower treading is the major driving source of the
personal vehicle and electricity is merely auxiliary for balancing, thus
the personal vehicle of the present invention can conserve more energy
relative to SEGWAY.

[0046] The personal vehicle of the present invention can retrieve some
energy for charging the batteries when braking the personal vehicle or
driving in a downgrade, it can also be raised and trod for charging the
batteries, and thus the personal vehicle has the advantage of energy
conservation.

[0047] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present
invention described herein are merely illustrative of the technical
concepts and features of the present invention and are not meant to limit
the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art, after reading the
present disclosure, will know how to practice the invention. Various
variations or modifications can be made without departing from the spirit
of the invention. All such equivalent variations and modifications are
intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

[0048] As a result of continued thinking about the invention and
modifications, the inventors finally work out the designs of the present
invention that has many advantages as described above. The present
invention meets the requirements for an invention patent, and the
application for a patent is duly filed accordingly. It is expected that
the invention could be examined at an early date and granted so as to
protect the rights of the inventors.